Well all the months of planning and organisation truly bore fruit when Firefest III took place at Nottingham Rock City on Saturday gone. Twelve hundred people were well and truly rocked by Nexx, Treat, Wig Wam, Fair Warning Bonfire, Gotthard & Winger. HardRockHouse will of course be bringing you a full review and pictures of the show over the next couple of days but in the meantime below we have a pictorial taster of the events of day.

Congratulations and thanks must go to to all concerned, especially Kieran, Bruce, Tony, Daren, Amber, Paul, Bunt, Sue & Phil, for putting the whole shebang together and making it all such a fantastic day. As was announced Firefest will return next year, on the same weekend in October, once again at Nottingham Rock City. As soon as details on the line up and tickets are announced rest assured we will bring you the details

On the back of his recently released Bat Out Of Hell III opus Meat Loaf returns to the UK next year for a series of live shows in May. The dates so far confirmed are:

Further UK dates for the tour are currently being planned and will be announced as soon as they are confirmed

Frontiers Records have announced the signing of Dokken for the release of a brand new studio album in 2007.

Dokken are the legendary US metal band formed originally in 1977. With such albums as “Tooth And Nail”, “Under Lock And Key”, “Back For the Attack” and later “Dysfunctional” and “Erase The Slate” they have characterized a musical style made of technical guitars and soaring melodic vocals backed by a heavy thumping bass.

Currently the band consists of Don Dokken on vocals, Jon Levin on guitar, Barry Sparks on bass, and Mick Brown on drums.

“The new record will be a classic Dokken style release, something that all the fans have been asking for”, says Don Dokken. “We hope to be done with the production of the record within January 07, so that we can plan a full European tour for the summer time!”.

Toto

TOTO have announced a new stream of tour dates during the spring 2007.
12 March 2007 Colston Hall , Bristol (United Kingdom)
13 March 2007 City Hall , Newcastle (United Kingdom)
14 March 2007 Apollo , Manchester (United Kingdom)
17 March 2007 Porsche Arena , Stuttgart (Germany)
18 March 2007 Philipshalle , Düsseldorf (Germany)
19 March 2007 Heineken Music Hall , Amsterdam (Holland)
21 March 2007 Olympiahalle , Munich (Germany)
22 March 2007 Olympia Halla , Innsbruck (Austria)
24 March 2007 Galaxie , Metz (France)
26 March 2007 Zenith , Paris (France)
27 March 2007 Zenith , Dijon (France)
28 March 2007 Zenith , Nantes (France)
30 March 2007 Palaruffini , Turin (Italy)
01 April 2007 Palabam , Mantova (Italy)

Ramos

Josh Ramos (HARDLINE, THE STORM) has started to write songs for the follow-up release to the acclaimed “Living In The Light” album. The music style will be once again “straight-ahead melodic rock with great uptempos, ballads and melodies” says Josh. He also confirmed that the extraordinary new talent Don Chaffin will handle all lead vocals. Frontiers hopes to release the album before the summer 07.

Stan Bush

Stan Bush is putting finishing touches to the recording of his brand new studio album. According to Stan the mix will start next week and the album will be delivered sometime in November 06. “This is definitely my best album ever!” says Stan and judging from the demos he’s been working on we can believe him !

Michael Kiske

Popular singer MICHAEL KISKE has confirmed his desire to work on a new recording of old HELLOWEEN hits in acoustic / unplugged mode. All in all around 11 songs will be re-arranged but also one brand new song will find its way on this album. In the meanwhile Michael will also appear as a guest singing a duet with Gisa Vatcky, the female singer of the band INDIGO DYING for the song “Breathe In Water”. The coming winter will be very busy for Michael !

Pride Of Lions

Jim Peterik and Toby Hitchock are busy putting finishing touches to the recording of the third PRIDE OF LIONS album entitled “The Roaring of Dreams”. According to Peterik, “It is a return to the more commercial and hooky sounds of the first album and actually takes much of its inspiration from the Vital Signs album by SURVIVOR. Keep in mind though that it is pure PRIDE OF LIONS and adds the drama of Toby’s voice and the counterpoint vocals of yours truly”.

“The songs are mostly shorter form and more to the point”, continues Peterik, “there are still some grand messages though: the title track is about the massive sound that we hear in our head when a dream is taking shape - even when you are working a 9 to 5 shift or even if you are an unhappy house wife- you still can hear the dream in your head. There is a song about the "The Book of Life" we are all writing- "are you just a footnote- or will you rise to fill it's pages- you were born to rock the ages- just take your pen and write the book of life"- you can shape your own destiny if you really try. Toby has a field day with the Hagaresque rocker " Heaven on Earth", inspired on the night my wife's brother Andy passed away- "I'm not gonna wait till I’m six feet under - we can find heaven on earth". There's a classic pop song called "Language of the Heart" that really rocks, there something for everyone and I am sure this w ill please all”.

Once again the band’s line-up in the recording features Ed Breckenfeld on drums, Klem Hayes on bass, Mike Aquino on guitar and Christian Cullen on keyboards apart from Jim Peterik (keyboards, guitar and vocals) and Toby Hitchcock on lead vocals. Frontiers Records plans to release the album in early 2007.

Slamer

Following the successful release of the SLAMER debut album “Nowhere Land”, the official SLAMER website was launched ! Go to mikeslamer.ke0.eu and enjoy everything about british guitarist Mike Slamer !!!

FREDRIKSEN/DENANDER

Former TOTO singer Fergie Fredriksen is putting his finishing touches to the recording of the long awaited FREDRIKSEN / DENANDER project. There will be 12 songs included on the album and according to guitar player Tommy Denander “This stuff is killer!”. Frontiers hopes to receive the finished master within the end of 06 in order to schedule the release for the first half of 2007.

KHYMERA

The third album of the KHYMERA project (featuring Daniele Liverani on keyboards, Dario Ciccioni on drums, Tommy Ermolli on guitar and Dennis Ward of PINK CREAM 69 on vocals) has started to take shape. This time the songwriting has been completely handled by the british brothers Tom and James Martin (who did also heavily contribute to the second record and penned the beautiful “Ghost of Time” on the latest HOUSE OF LORDS album “World Upside Down”). The recording will start in early 2007 and the label plans a release after the summer.

JOHN WAITE

Unfortunately the planned JOHN WAITE UK / European tour got cancelled. No other details are available at the moment, but it is hoped that JOHN will be able to play in Europe during the spring 07.

RICHIE KOTZEN

Guitarist/Singer Richie Kotzen was kind enough to send his personal comments on the tracks that will appear on his forthcoming album “Into The Black” to be released in Europe on Frontiers Records on December 8th 2006! Enjoy the read !

1. You Can't Save Me
This is the first song I recorded for the CD... the first 3 songs were this one, "Fear" and "The Shadow"... "You Can’t Save Me" sets the tone for the entire record... I’m not sure where the inspiration came from, but obviously I was a bit pissed at something... It was one of those songs that really wrote itself... I started with the riff and then just began to sing...

2. Misunderstood
This was the 4th song I wrote for the CD... it is really about the effects substances have on your mind... When you're high, you tend to talk about things and say things you would n ever say... You begin to believe in things that to a sober mind would have no bearing whatsoever ... 3. Fear This song is about running out of options... Losing site of goals and surrendering to defeat... It's sort of a sad song lyrically but it's a place that I'm sure many people come to in life if even only for a moment.

4. The Shadow
This song is about inner voices... Also about feeling alone... Living in a bit of a fantasy world and feeling misunderstood on all levels...

5. Doin' What The Devil Says To Do
This song is about mistakes... Also about knowing what the right choice is but for whatever reason you keep on making the same mistake over and over again even though you know your doing it...

6. Till You Put Me Down
This is a break up song... basically says that I’m going to stay with you even though I know it's bad... Saying I won't leave until you leave me sort of thing.

7. Sacre d Ground
This song is about being lost whenever you are without the one you love... I suppose it's a bit of a love song even though it sounds sort of creepy.

8. Your Lies
This song is another sort of desperate love song... More or less saying that you surrender to whatever the other person gives you.

9. Living In Bliss
I wrote this song a long time ago... There were several different versions of this song until I settled on the version on the CD... It is another break up song... Basically talking about how bad the relationship was and how much better off you are without.

10. My Angel
This is one of those disfunctional love songs where you are admitting fault in how you are, but also admitting you can't change.

May 4th - Dublin The Point
May 5th - Belfast The Odyssey
May 7th - Glasgow SECC
May 8th - Manchester MEN Arena
May 9th - Birmingham NEC Arena
May 10th - London Wembley Arena
May 11th - London Wembley Arena
May 12th - Sheffield Arena

Tickets for the tour go on sale on October 27th.

Vomitory will enter Leon Music Studios outside Karlstad/Sweden on December 3rd to start recording the new album.

“This time we'll work with producer Rikard Löfgren, who is the founder/owner of Leon Music. Rikard Löfgren is still a pretty unfamiliar name within the death metal scene. He mostly works with more commercial music but he is a great producer and has his roots in metal. We know the guy since ages and we have great confidence in him.”

“It's going to feel strange to do a new Vomitory album not working with our side-kick Henrik Larsson, but we feel it's time to try something new. Since Vomitory isn't exactly an experimental band, we feel that working in a new studio with a new producer is a good way of renewing the band. We have two weeks for the recording and one week of mix and mastering.”

The album is planned to be released by the end of April next year through Metal Blade Records with the album title being revealed in the near future.

As I Lay Dying have issued the following update on their current activities: Vocalist Tim Lambesis comments "In case you are wondering why you haven't heard from us in the last month, we have been hard at work writing songs for our next full-length album. So far the writing process has been very enjoyable. We have four songs done and a couple other songs that are still very rough. Starting on Halloween, we will take a break from song writing to tour Europe. We're looking forward to it!"

As I lay Dying are on the road with Bullet For My Valentine and play the following shows throughout November

Nov 13th - Leeds University
Nov 14th - Liverpool University
Nov 16th - Norwich UEA
Nov 17th - Cambridge Corn Exchange
Nov 19th - Glasgow Barrowlands
Nov 20th - Edinburgh Corn Exchange
Nov 21st - Newcastle Academy
Nov 22nd - Manchester Apollo
Nov 24th - Cardiff University
Nov 25th - Brighton Dome
Nov 27th - Birmingham Academy
Nov 28th - London Hammersmith Apollo

Frontiers Records has announced the release of two separate JORN Lande records entitled "Unlocking The Past" and "The Gathering" which are scheduled to be released on January 27th 2007. The concept behind this dual release is to satisfy the fans' request for more material and to make some of Jorn's earlier work more available.

"With 'The Gathering'," the Norwegian hard rock vocalist says, "I'm removing dust from some of my earlier recordings because I believe some of these songs deserve a second chance in history. Some tracks have been rerecorded from scratch, simply because I felt they would sound better with new arrangements and approach. Others have been remixed and have this way been given a 'face lift' due to the fact that the original recordings didn't sound that great production wise. All songs have been digitally mastered by my good friend Tommy Hansen and I hope that this album will please my old as well as my newer fans."

"Unlocking the Past" includes some previously unreleased cover songs that were originally considered to be "leftovers" or additional bonus tracks for previous JORN albums. Many of them were never included on any official release. Some brand new covers were also recorded specifically for this CD. Dust has been brushed from these recordings; the remix of "Burn", "The Day the Earth Caught Fire" (which originally appeared on JORN's solo debut album "Starfire"), and the remastered version of "On and On" (which was supposed to appear on a MILLENIUM covers album a few years back), complete the track listing of the album.

"I'm very excited about releasing these songs from the treasure chest," Jorn says.

The track listing on the two albums will be as follows:

"Unlocking the Past"

01. On And On (MSG)
02. Fool For Your Loving (WHITESNAKE)
03. Cold Sweat (THIN LIZZY)
04. Lonely Is The Word/Letters From Earth (BLACK SABBATH)
05. Burn (DEEP PURPLE)
06. Feel Like Making Love (BAD COMPANY)
07. Kill The King (RAINBOW)
08. Perfect Strangers (DEEP PURPLE)
09. Naked City (KISS)
10. The Day The Earth Caught Fire (CITY BOY)

"The Gathering"

01. Something Real
02. Gonna Find The Sun
03. Bridges Will Burn
04. Young Forever
05. Tungur Knivur
06. One Day We Will Put Out The Sun
07. Sunset Station
08. Hourglass
09. Gate Of Tears
10. House Of Cards
11. My Own Way
12. Worldchanger
13. Abyss Of Evil
14. Where The Winds Blow
15. Christine
16. Big

Prior to getting down to work on the, as yet untitled, follow up to 2005’s acclaimed Trainwreck album: Burlington, Ontario punk rock heroes Boys Night Out will hit the road in the UK this November: The full list of dates is as follows:

09th Nov – Cardiff Barfly
10th Nov – Manchester Roadhouse
11th Nov – York Fibbers (Barfly)
12th Nov – Glasgow Barfly
13th Nov – Liverpool Barfly
14th Nov – Birmingham Barfly
15th Nov – London Barfly

Fresh from supporting US noise behemoths The Abominable Iron Sloth, Brighton punk rockers, The Ghost Of A Thousand, have lined up a heap of shows! The band will support Boys Night Out  in November around the UK (see dates above), followed by a London support to NYC metallers Dry Kill Logic. In December the band support This Is Hell (Trustkill Records) for two regional dates before heading out on a co-headline run with Sheffield's The Mirimar Disaster who have also just joined the Undergroove family! The Ghost Of A Thousand's debut album 'This Is Where The Fight Begins' mixed by Kurt Ballou (of Converge fame) will hit the streets in early 2007.

THIN LIZZY,  have been added to to the bill for next year's DEEP PURPLE/STYX U.K. tour. The dates are as follows:

Apr. 21 - Newcastle, UK @ Metro Radio Arena
Apr. 22 - Manchester, UK @ MEN Arena
Apr. 24 - Nottingham, UK @ Arena
Apr. 25 - Cardiff, UK @ CIA Arena
Apr. 27 - Bournemouth, UK @ BIC
Apr. 28 - London, UK @ Wembley Arena
Apr. 29 - Brighton, UK @ Centre
May 01 - Glasgow, UK @ Clyde Auditorium
May 02 - Sheffield, UK @ Hallam FM Arena
May 03 - Birmingham, UK @ NEC

Melodic metal heads, prog fans, lovers of complex sounds with a heavy edge take heed! Swedish DRAGONLAND are about to strike back with a new masterpiece combining bombastic yet melodic metal with epic atmosphere and stellar musicianship. With “Astronomy”, the follow up to 2004’s much lauded “Starfall” album, DRAGONLAND are about to return stronger than ever on November 13, 2006. Lead guitarist Olof Mörck comments on the new album:

“Astronomy” is evolution; the path we took from the common sphere of power metal with “Starfall” is further traversed on this album and we have really elaborated on the elements that felt truly unique for us. Though, said path is also a darker one; where “Starfall” was happier and more focused on keyboards than our previous efforts, “Astronomy” is gloomier, more stygian and packed with crunching guitars; both furiously fast and bone-grindingly heavy. The lyrics I have written for this album also represent a delving into dimly illumined vistas and just like on “Starfall” there are no fantasy themed lyrics at all. Instead, a diverse array of themes revolving around the astronomical prism have been explored, ranging from ancient Greek myth to contact with non-terrestrial life forms and I truly hope that it will create a diverse and thrilling lyrical journey for the unsuspecting listener.

Both lyrically and musically, ‘The Old House on the Hill’ is definitely the crown jewel of this album with its megalithic 14 minutes without a single repetition of any musical part and a five full page story to go with it. We set out to create something even more film score-esque than ‘The Book of Shadows’ trilogy, and after 5 long months of just working on this epic we can finally say we have achieved what we set out to create. In all, the two years of hard labour with this album really felt like it paid off. Now we look forward to the response of the metal scene, and we hope you will join us on our astral endeavours when “Astronomy” hit the streets on November 13th!

The track listing for “Astronomy” is as follows:

Supernova, Cassiopeia, Contact, Astronomy, Antimatter, The Book of Shadows part IV: The Scrolls of Geometria Divina, Beethoven's Nightmare, Too Late for Sorrow, Direction: Perfection, The Old House on the Hill Chapter I: A Death in the Family, The Old House on the Hill Chapter II: The Thing in the Cellar and The Old House on the Hill Chapter III: The Ring of Edward Waldon

Swedish metal titans The Haunted have announced details of a forthcoming UK tour scheduled to take place in February 2007. The tour, which is in support of their new album, "The Dead Eye". takes in the following dates:

Feb. 04tg – Bristol Academy 2
Feb. 05th - Birmingham Academy 2
Feb. 06th - Dublin Temple Bar
Feb. 07th - Liverpool Academy 2
Feb. 08th - Nottingham Rock City
Feb. 09th - Glasgow Cathouse
Feb. 10th - Manchester Hop & Grape
Feb. 11th - Leeds Cockpit
Feb. 12th - Norwich Waterfront

'The Dead Eye', which was recorded in Denmark at Antfarm Studios with renowned producer Tue Madsen is scheduled to be released on October 30th

With the release of their latest album, 'Secret Society', imminent  Europe have announced details of a UK tour during February 2007. The Swedish rockers will play the following shows:

Feb. 10th - Newcastle Carling Academy
Feb. 11th - Glasgow Carling Academy
Feb. 13th - Bristol Carling Academy
Feb. 14th - London Shepherd's Bush Empire
Feb. 15th - Birmingham Carling Academy

Following up their succesful appearance at London's Hammersmith Apollo earlier this year US legends return to the UK for a trio of shows in March 2007. The dates confirmed for the trek are:

March 12th - Bristol Colston Hall
March 13th - Newcastle City Hall
March 14th - Manchester Apollo

After a hugely successful set at the Camden Proud Galleries last night The Maybes? Tour continues to roll though he country. The band will be playing  the following shows over the coming month

October
21 Liverpool Stanley Theatre
22 Stoke Sugar Mill
23 Coventry Coliseum
24 Huddersfield Tokyo
25 Wigan Kings Electric
26 Bournemouth Consortium
29 Brighton Engine Rooms
30 Bristol Academy
31 Doncaster Boiler Rooms

November
1 Carlisle the Brickyard
2 Hull the Lamp
4 Manchester Piccadilly Gardens

Sounds can be found here: http://www.myspace.com/themaybesliverpool and you can check out the HardRockHouse review of their Olympia EP via this link

WASP the American shock rockers play there first Newcastle gig in almost 15 years at the Newcastle academy on the October 29th 2006. Rising  to infamy with the release of their debut single Animal (Fuck Like A Beast) way back in 1984, the band have since released over a dozen studio albums and several live albums in the intervening two decades and have recently completed work a new album, which is to be called Dominator, and is scheduled to be released early in 2007 via SPV Records.

In advance of the album release band mainman Blackie Lawless and cohorts, guitarist Doug Blair, bassist Mike Duda and drummer Mike Dupke are currently on the road in Europe unleashing their own particular brand of mayhem on gig goes the continent over playing a show that mixes old and new classics that’ll knock your socks off! Support comes from McQueen+ House of Cards so get yourself down to the Academy to catch an icon of metal.  Tickets for the gig are available from www.cannygigs.com and Newcastle Academy itself and of course we'll have a review of the show on HardRockHouse.com soon after the show....

Black Messiah

The first Black Messiah album at AFM Records “Of Myths And Legends“ will be released on November, 17th. Black Messiah once again display their musicianship, but on an even higher level. If you don't have a clue what “Pagan Metal” means BLACK MESSIAH would feel honoured to introduce you to it…

Doro

On November, 24, 2006 a spectacular release is approaching: the DORO "Warrior Soul Winter Edition (20 Years A Warrior Soul)" offers, in three different configurations, a view over the career of one of the strongest and most interesting artists of all times.

The regular Winter Edition of "Warrior Soul" includes, next to already established hits such as "You `re My Family", "Strangers Yesterday" or "Haunted Heart" an extra bonus CD with live tracks and a brand new, so far unreleased track.

The "20 Years A Warrior Soul" Edition contains, next to that, a high quality double DVD as well. The DVD is produced in the currently best and technically most developed DVD9-format. On the first DVD you get to see a 90 minutes documentation about the anniversary show, including all guests such as, for example, Lemmy/Motörhead, Biff/Saxon, Zak/Circle II Circle or Udo Dirkschneider/U.D.O.. It also contains a revolutionary road movie about the "Warrior Soul" tour. Like a real movie this road movie leads the watcher through different tour stations in Germany, Spain and Russia, as well as through big festival events (Sweden Rock) and allows several private insights in the daily touring life. The second DVD offers the anniversary show from Düsseldorf in full length. Roughly 180 minutes of that show that Doro will, as well as her fans, never ever forget.

For all collectors and true fans there will also be the exclusive, limited to 1000 pieces, spectacular Fan Box with special shirt, sticker, autograph card as well as a Warrior Soul-snow globe. Next to the winter tour of German rock queen Doro this will be the perfect Christmas gift for sure.

Graham Bonnett's official website has just been updated with the following information on the return of Bonnet's 1980's outfit Alcatrazz:

"We know that there is already a rumour about "Alcatrazz" circulating on the internet. Yes, we have to admit that there is a project to form new Alcatrazz involving Graham, Howie Simon (g), Glenn Sobel (d) and Tim Luce (b). The official name is "Alcatrazz featuring Graham Bonnet", and it is not the reunion of the Alcatrazz perhaps you all know very well. Graham is truly hoping to tour Japan with this new band. When any activity of this project is confirmed, it'll definitely be on this News page. So keep your fingers crossed"!

On a side note, Graham has been invited by Don Airey to join the recording of Don's new solo album and sing some tracks. Also, as for the Elektric Zoo recordings, the vocal tracks are now half way done. Rest assured that it is progressing.

The View will be marking the release of their second single, ‘Superstar Tradesman’ by kicking off a mini homecoming tour in Fopp stores across Scotland. Starting off at Edinburgh’s Rose Street Fopp at 1:30pm on the single release date, Monday 23rd October, they then shoot off to perform in Dundee Fopp at 6pm on the same day. They go on to play Aberdeen Fopp the next day at 1:30pm!

Originally from the Dryburgh area of Dundee; Kyle, Keiren, Peter and Steve formed The View from the ashes of an old covers band they created at school. The band progressed from playing around the local pubs and clubs of Dundee, as they began writing and rehearsing their own songs in the backroom of their local, The Bayview Bar (hence the band’s name).

Since then, The View have fast become a modern rock’n’roll sensation. Captivating the hearts of music lovers alike with their indie-punk beats, so it is to no surprise that Fopp are excited to have them perform three Fopp in-store dates, taking them back playing to their home crowds.

There will be very limited entry to these performances. Entry will be with a Fopp wristband only, which will be given out on a first come basis from the relevant store on Saturday 21st October from 9am. Wristbands will only be available from the stores where the band is performing:


Monday 23rd October – Edinburgh, Rose Street Fopp – 1:30pm
Monday 23rd October – Dundee Fopp – 6pm
Tuesday 24th October – Aberdeen Fopp – 1:30pm

The View are now part of the institution that is Fopp in-stores - Dirty Pretty Things, The Kooks, The Mystery Jets and Hot Chip have all played at Fopp stores in recent times. Fopp's ability to provide a platform for cutting edge bands to play to fans across its stores is being developed all the time. Now that there are even more Fopp Stores there'll be even more music...There are now 31 Fopp outlets in the UK, with the last few months seeing Fopp open a flagship store in London, along with further Fopps springing up in Bath, Brighton, East Kilbride and Southampton.

Z Records Update

The official release of Lost Weekend's "Forever Moving On" and the Andersson Mills "Crank It Up" has been delayed until October 31st due to pressing plant delays and a small print error. Some lucky fans already managed to get hold of both albums at the recent Z Rock festival but those of you who have been eagerly awaiting the releases will not be disappointed

In the meantime Dante Fox have parted ways with Z and their currently unreleased 3rd album, 'Under The Seven Skies' will now be released on an, as yet, unspecified label.

EQUILIBRIUM, for many people the hottest newcomer band from Germany since many years, signed a muti-album contract with Nuclear Blast. The melodic Black Metal band from Munich gained a huge fanbase with their last album "Turis Fratyr" and with many successful live gigs. EQUILIBRIUM will enter a studio in January 2007 in order to record their next output "Sagas". An early summer release is expected.

The band: "A deal with Nuclear Blast? Wow. A dream came true. We´re looking forward to some cool years and even cooler records!"

Escape Music have announced the forthcoming release of a triple CD Digipack which combines the first three Phenomena albums. These three classic recordings include an all star cast of musicians that include Glenn Hughes, Brian May, Ray Gillan, Scott Gorham and Don Airey plus many others. All three albums are of the highest quality, and the re-mastered package will include 6 bonus tracks, 3 brand new songs and 3 re-recordings.

The full recording line-up on

Phenomena: Phenomena I: Vocals: Glenn Hughes Guitar: Mel Galley Bass: Neil Murray Drums:Cozy Powell Keyboards: Don Airey, Richard Bailey Producer: Tom Galley Production and concept consultant: Wilfried F. Rimensberger

Phenomena II Dream Runner: Vocals: Ray Gillan, Glenn Hughes, John Wetton, Max Bacon Guitar:Kyoji Yamomoto, Mel Galley, Scott Gorham, John Thomas Bass: Neil Murray, John Wetton Drums: Michael Sturgis, Toshihiro Miimi Keyboards: Leif Johansen, Richard Bailey Producer: Tom Galley Project Director/Co-Producer: Wilfried F. Rimensberger.

Phenomena III Inner Vision Vocals: Keith Murrell Guitar: Brian May, Mel Galley, Scott Gorham Drums; Michael Strugis Keyboards: Leif Johansen Producer: Tom Galley Project Director/Co Producer: Wilfried F. Rimensberger Co-Producer: Leif Johansen

This triple pack is scheduled to be released on 7th December

Genre defying Massachusetts five-piece LIGEIA has announced they will tour Europe in December.

10th – KINGSTON (UK) – The Peel (w/ Bring Me The Horizon)
11th – STOKE (UK) – The Glebe (w/ Penknifelovelife)
12th – LEEDS (UK) – Joseph’s Well (w/ Penknifelovelife)
13th – MANCHESTER (UK) – Satan’s Hollow (w/ Penknifelovelife)
14th – NEWCASTLE (UK) – University (w/ Penknifelovelife)
15th – MIDDLESBOROUGH (UK) – TBA (w/ Penknifelovelife)
16th – SWINDON (UK) – Furnace (w/ Penknifelovelife)
17th – EXETER (UK) – The Cavern (w/ Penknifelovelife)
18th – TAMWORTH (UK) – The Palace (Penknifelovelife)

Killswitch Engage, who release their latest album 'As Daylight Dies' through Roadrunner Records on November 20th, are heading to the UK for a batch of dates in January to promote the CD. The dates confirmed for the trek are as follows:

Jan. 07 - Nottingham Rock City
Jan. 08 - Glasgow Barrowlands
Jan. 10 - Dublin Ambassador Theatre
Jan. 11 - Manchester Academy
Jan. 12 - Birmingham Academy
Jan. 13 - Brixton Academy
Jan. 14 - Bristol Academy

Underground Uprising is a ground breaking new event exclusively showcasing UK talent.

In an effort to counter the unfortunate demise of the 'Lost Playground' Festival earlier in the year, PSI Records (home of the legendary Pitchshifter and the many-headed-hydra This Is Menace (featuring members of Funeral For A Friend, Hundred Reasons, Sikth, Therapy, Carcass, Killing Joke and Fightstar) has rallied the UK scene to stage an in-your-face Underground Festival that promises to see 2006 out with a bang like no other!

Pitchshifter, Sikth, Breed 77, Architects and Gallows (plus special guests) are intent on making this THE event of the year!!!!

In addition, all Underground Uprising ticket holders will get an exclusive discount on entry to the after-show party to be held at the Mean Fiddler. Entry for these ticket holders will be just £3! Drink with your favorite bands until someone gets arrested (ticket price does not include legal fees!)

To celebrate this unique event further, PSI Records will be giving away a free CD to each member of the audience - a physical memory of the night incase alcohol messes with your neuro-memory!

The price is cheap. The location is great. This event may be Pitchshifter's last outing for 2006, but it's sizing up to be the party of all parties!!!

Let the party begin!

Event: Underground Uprising Festival 2006
Date: Friday, 15th December 2006.
Location: London Astoria.
Times: 4:00pm to 10:20pm.
Line Up: Pitchshifter, Sikth, Breed 77, Architects, Gallows, + SPECIAL GUESTS Ticket Price: £16.50 advance.

Flotsam & Jetsoam'’s Doomsday for the Deceiver 20th Anniversary Set:

Here we are again facing another release, but this one is different… On November 3rd/6th we will be unleashing the very album that put us on the map in the metal world. Doomsday for the Deceiver 20th Anniversary Set. The set will include unreleased material and live footage from the Bootlegger in Phoenix from 1985 as well as other live footage. Also included is a photo history that goes back before Mike and Ed joined the band.”

Original drummer Kelly Smith was nice enough to provide some inside info on Flotsam’s history and the upcoming release:

The Beginning – Stage One

“In 1982 I had put together a band during my early high school years, “PARADOX”. It was 2 guitar players and myself, no singer or bass player. The usual makings of an everyday early stage garage band. So we decided to run an ad in the local paper since we didn’t know any bass players. So a few called back but no one stuck, than I received a knock at the door. Here stood a curly haired guy with his black explorer bass guitar in hand. So we met and proceeded to the back porch of my parent’s house. We practiced for a few months and then Jason asked do you know of any other guitar players that like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and the like.”

Stage Two – New Line Up

“I asked around and got a hold of the next set of guitar players that would eventually turn us towards the path of Flotsam. Kevin Horton – Rhythm Guitar and Mark Vasquez – Lead Guitar. We started to learn all sorts of great music; UFO, Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, Judas Priest, and Ted Nugent. At our first gig professionally as, “DREDLOX”. Jason sang lead and had acquired a friendship with Jeff Newsome who at the time was running sound for UFO on the road. We played at the infamous “Mason Jar Lounge” in Phoenix. I’m sure a lot of you who have been through Phoenix have been there or played there. So anyways back to the story. We played that evening and we were so loud that we knocked eight glasses off of the bar. We didn’t get paid and the owner fired us on the spot.”

Stage Three – A Singer Evolved

“We made a decision that a front man might suit us better for the music we were playing.

I was in summer school and I remembered seeing this guy in my class who sang in the talent show earlier that year. He sang a lot like Halford although what he sang at the show wasn’t metal he was still an awesome singer. So I asked him if he wanted to audition. He had to learn 4 Judas Priest songs in 4 days. I am not certain but this is the list as I remember it:

1. Desert Plains
2. Hot Rockin’
3. Victim of Changes
4. The Green Manaleshi

So we played on his back patio for his audition. He kicked ass like no one we had heard or seen. We put him on 2 week probation. Later on he took a denim jacket cut off the sleeves and wrote “2 WEEKER” on the back. We joked about that for years. Shortly after AK joined the clan we wanted to get another lead player in the band. We were heavily influenced by the dual lead scenario of the bands of the era; Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and the like. We found Ed Carlson from a rival band in Phoenix called Exodus, it’s not the same one you’re thinking of; I think every city had an Exodus then. We also decided that we should change our name to “THE DOGZ” as DREDLOX didn’t suit us at all. Ed joined the band and played his first show with DOGZ after only five days in the band. We played at the local ice arena with local heroes Surgical Steel. As time went on we developed our own repertoire of music and locally we started to get a name for ourselves. We played with artists like: Armored Saint, Riot, Exciter, Mercyful Fate, Alcatraz featuring - Yngvie Malmsteen and a many others.”

Stage Four - Transformation

“So at this point the line up was:

Eric A.K. – Vocals
Jason Newsted – Bass
Mark Vasquez – Lead Guitar
Ed Carlson – Lead Guitar
Kelly D Smith - Drums

In 1984 or late ’83 we decided another name change would do us some good. We had written a song back in the DOGZ days called “Flotsam and Jetsam”. It was written from the Tolkien Trilogy of two drifters in the story. We were getting stronger locally and writing more and more. During this time I was in deep in my addiction to cocaine and then it happened. I was indicted for the sales of narcotics and sent to prison. Not long, 30 days in D.O.C. During my time in prison, Mark decided he wanted to go another direction and left the band. Jason and the remaining members sought out Mike Gilbert, who at the time was 17 years old. He was in the local band called “The Kids”.

So when I got out of the clink they had already started to write songs together.”

Stage Five – New Direction

“Before Mike Gilbert, Mark had been the main writer in the band. Jason was always the lyrics guy with musical input as well. Now that Mike was in the band and things were starting to make the final turn towards the sound and feel of Flotsam is known for. I was very resistant to the new wave of metal that was appearing. I was still in the Maiden/Priest stages of music. Now Metallica, Anthrax, S.O.D, Megadeth and Metal Church were coming up in the scene. I remember it clear as day when the band was pushing me “play it faster” and I was mad that I had too. I grew up with Neil Peart and Rush as my Idol and now there was no room for that. In fact it was the writing of the song Metal Shock that this happened. The first song Mike wrote for Flotsam was I Live You Die. Pretty amazing, Huh? We started getting more speed metal songs under are belt. Jason was doing the business part of things at this point. We used to play at the local club “The Bootlegger”. It became our home. Gloria Cavelera (manager and wife to Max from Soulfly, Sepultura) was the former owner of the Bootlegger. She had a battle of the bands at her club and the band that won broke up. Gloria gave the studio time to us. She was the one responsible for the making of the Metal Shock Demo which eventually got Flotsam signed to Metal Blade Records and of course led to Jason’s departure into Metallica.”

Stage Six - Evolution

“After the demo was completed, Jason came up with a plan to get some of the people around us to invest in us and duplicate the demo and send it out to magazines, fanzines, radio stations and record labels. We also sold them through Zia records a small local chain in Phoenix. All the proceeds went to the promotion of the band. So we made our first MTV like video “HAMMERHEAD” in Jason’s apartment living room. Really, no kidding!!! We used to practice there as well in a room just off to the side of the apartment. We also recorded live video from the Bootlegger which we sent out to Brian Slagel of Metal Blade Records. We had finally gained a record deal with Metal Blade records. It was amazing to us.”

Stage Seven - Revelation

“In the winter of 1985 we went to Los Angeles and started recording “Doomsday for the Deceiver”. We had a tight budget 12000.00 to make the entire record. A time period of two weeks total. I had two days to record my drum tracks and I had fifteen stitches in my arm five days prior. Life was chaotic but it was good. We were making the first record of our lives. It was very surreal to think from the back porch to this point how it all worked out the way it did. So on July 26th 1986, Flotsam was unleashed on the world with a label behind them. We had Roadrunner the best metal label in Europe supporting us as well. Some of you may remember that in 1986 we were the first band in Kerrang’s history to achieve the 6k rating. As a band we had never at that point even toured any farther than California with Megadeth on a few shows and at the Country Club in LA. It was amazing how we were buzzing the scene. So it was working well and the BUZZ was BIG.”

Stage Eight – An Open Door

“On September 27th, 1986, the world of metal suffered a terrible blow. Cliff Burton had been killed on the Master of Puppets tour in Europe. No one could believe it. It was strange as we had seen Metallica in Phoenix only months before. That night I stood in front of the stage banging my head with Cliff up above on stage and now he’s gone. They had been on tour with WASP in the states. We all wondered what would happen now. Then Metallica announced they were going to audition to replace Cliff. Jason had been working with one of the A&R’s from Elektra keeping an open dialogue since Doomsday had been released. Mike Alago, who was responsible for signing Metallica to Elektra Records as well as Metal Church, Rob Zombie and many others in metal, was a factor in helping Jason get the audition as well as Brian Slagel and a few others. Mike Gilbert and Kevin Horton helped Jason to learn the songs so he could go in finely tuned for the job. Jason is not a person that fails when he sets his mind on a goal. He had been through a lot up to this point. He even stayed in a 10 x 20 steel warehouse that we rented to practice in. He was jobless and homeless and in Phoenix where it gets up to 115 degrees. He lived on only peanut butter sandwiches and whatever he could scrounge up. So now he is looking at the ultimate gig. He wasn’t leaving without the gig. As you all know he made it.”

Stage Nine – Moving On

“The last show that Jason played with Flotsam was exactly 20 years to the day of this release. That’s right Oct 31st, 1986. There is a picture from that night inside the anniversary box set. Quite ironic that it ended up this way. Let me reassure you it was not at all planned this way. He was and is an awesome choice to this day for Metallica. It is unfortunate that they had a falling out.”

Stage 10 – And So On

“Since his departure we created the second master piece being one of the fan favorites “No Place for Disgrace”. On Elektra Records 1988 Jason was a co-writer on three of the songs on this record as well. These were written before he left to join Metallica.

No Place For Disgrace
N.E.Terror
I Live You Die

When I got the remix copy of Doomsday I nearly cried at the performance and the realization of how great a band we were at that time. We practiced nearly everyday for at least 2-3 hours and even more after Jason left as we wanted to be the best metal band as well as the best musicians we could be. We lived it, we ate it, and we breathed it in and made it apart of each of us. I hope it is that way with you out there. I am very proud that I was a part of this project and had the chance to play with such awesome musicians and work with great talent behind the board.  Enjoy the Anniversary of Doomsday, for us you have made the path along the way more than great. It is unexplainable.” As Fans and Believers of Flotsam YOU FUCKIN’ RULE.

We thank you!!

Flotz ‘til death

Kelly D Smith

Lizzy Borden working hard on new record:

Lizzy Borden has signed with Coallier Entertainment Ltd. (W.A.S.P., TWISTED SISTER). "We are all very excited to be with Coallier Entertainment," the band said in a statement. "Touring in all territories has been our goal for a long, long time and now with Coallier Entertainment booking us, we can play in places that we never have before and bring the Lizzy Borden show worldwide."

Lizzy Borden is working on a new record and is looking to recreate the Lizzy Borden logo to fit with the new concept. The logo shape has not changed very much over the years, but the inside of the logo has gone from red with blades ("Give 'em the Axe") to a hypnotizing green ("Visual Lies") to the American flag with exposed bones ("The Murderess Metal Roadshow") and then finally on a contract signed by the horned one himself ("Deal with the Devil"). Commented Lizzy: "With every record we try and make the logo fit the concept. The concept for the new record is very dark and ominous and we need the logo to reflect that. "We've seen some amazing artwork on MySpace and other places on the net and would love to find that artist who understands Lizzy Borden and be the one to pen the logo for the forthcoming Lizzy Borden record."

Legendary fivepiece Capdown return to the hustle and bustle of the nation’s record racks next month with their first physical release for several light years. ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ is a brand new track and, as a strictly limited seven inch release, marks another significant stepping stone towards the band’s eagerly awaited third album, ‘Wind-Up Toys’, due early next year.

With the closeknit line-up of Jake (vox / sax), Boob (bass), Keith (guitar / vox) and Tim (drums) now augmented by newcomer Eddie (keyboards / samples) ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ continues what is turning out to be one heck of a raucous Capdown comeback. Over the past six years the Milton Keynes outfit have consistently and heroically energised the homegrown UK underground scene, supporting everyone from Hundred Reasons and A through to Reel Big Fish, Bad Religion and Less Than Jake and releasing two albums (‘Civil Disobedients’ and ‘Pound For The Sound’) to feverish acclaim.

Indeed, so strong were the foundations laid by the band by all that touring that in spite of spending a fair old chunk of the past two years writing and recording the ‘Wind-Up Toys’ album, the 2006 Carling Festival proved that Capdown remain as enervating a live draw as ever before with the biggest crowd for the Lock-Up stage on the Saturday afternoon at Reading. After that sunny success came the download-only release of ‘Home Is Where The Start Is’ in September, which happily coincided with a Radio One Lock-Up session.

Even more happily, ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ and the other eleven new songs which comprise ‘Wind Up Toys’ still retain that authentic ska sparkle yet with Larry Hibbitt at the production desk there is a new hard rock ferocity to the set which will become bruisingly apparent when the band head out on this super selective low-key Kerrang! Most Wanted tour…

NOVEMBER 26TH: BIRMINGHAM Barfly
NOVEMBER 27TH: LONDON CAMDEN Barfly
NOVEMBER 28TH: CARDIFF Barfly
NOVEMBER 29TH: YORK Barfly
NOVEMBER 30TH: GLASGOW Barfly
DECEMBER 1ST: ABERDEEN Moshulu
DECEMBER 2ND: EDINBURGH Exchange
DECEMBER 3RD: LIVERPOOL Barfly

Finnish post-hardcore troop Disco Ensemble will release their 'FIRST AID KIT' album on Nov 6 2006. It will be preceded by the 'BLACK EURO' single on Oct 30.

Being a heady mix of Refused meets Jimmy Eat World these releases look set to catapult Finland's best kept secret on to the world !!

To support these releases the band head out on the road at the end of this month on the EASTPAK ANTIDOTE TOUR (with Gogol Bordello, Danko Jones and Bedouin Soundclash).

Check out the tour e-card - http://antidotetour.com/ecard/

Catch them at one of the following shows:

31/10 Leeds, Uni
01/11 Glasgow, Barrowlands
02/11 Birmingham, Academy
03/11 Manchester, Academy
04/11 London, Brixton Academy
06/11 Brighton, Dome

LOST WEEKEND's appearance on Friday 3rd November at Halifax's Bar 15 club will now officially be the band's launch party for their fourth studio release, FOREVER MOVING ON. The show will be an exclusive show, that will see the band playing material from their new release plus their classic material from their previous three albums. The band hope to see many friendly faces along with many new ones to help launch the album in true LOST WEEKEND style.

Venue : Bar 15, Halifax
Entry : £2 per person
Support : Flame Tree
Doors : 7.30pm
Stage Times : Flame Tree @ 8.30pm & Lost Weekend @ 9.45pm

Due to the venue closing, the band's appearance at The Golden Lion in Halifax on Saturday 4th November has now been cancelled. Lost Weekend are working on new dates and hope to make an announcement in the near future.

The band would also like to THANK all their fans and friends who came along to the ZRock show in Dudley. This was an extremely successful show for the lads and one that everyone enjoyed - THANKS again and let's see you all on the 3rd November."